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Gentry to get time against right-handers

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Gentry's nice catch 0:38

4/10/13: Craig Gentry makes a leaping catch to put an end to Desmond Jennings' fly ball to center field in the top of the first inning

By T.R. Sullivan
/
MLB.com |

SEATTLE -- Leonys Martin started in center field for the Rangers on Thursday with right-hander Felix Hernandez on the mound for the Mariners. It was Martin's sixth start in 10 games and all have been against right-handed pitchers.

Craig Gentry, a right-handed hitter, has started four games, two against left-handers and two against right-handers. Since Martin hits left-handed, he will still get most of the starts against right-handers. But manager Ron Washington is still planning on using Gentry against some right-handed pitchers, including either Hisashi Iwakuma on Friday or Brandon Mauer on Sunday. Left-hander Joe Saunders starts on Saturday.

Washington is still feeling his way about how he'll divide up the playing time in center field. But he made two things clear. One is it will not be a strict platoon.

It is also not a tryout, with Washington looking to see who ends up winning the job. Washington said both will continue to play.

"We're fortunate to have two guys," Washington said before Thursday's game. "We've only played nine games, they're both going to play a lot of games. I hope they don't get mentally fried wondering when they're going to play. They both can play."